Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography Practice Exam

In subsistence agriculture, which method involves farming practices like slash-and-burn?

1. Nomadic Pastoralism

2. Intensive Agriculture

3. Shifting Cultivation

4. Commercial Agriculture

The correct answer is: Shifting Cultivation

Shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture, is characterized by its cycle of clearing land through cutting and burning vegetation to create fields for farming. After a period of cultivation, typically a few seasons, the soil's fertility diminishes, prompting farmers to move on to a new area. This method is sustainable in that it allows for recovery periods for the land, during which natural vegetation can regrow and restore soil nutrients. In the context of subsistence agriculture, shifting cultivation enables communities to produce food for their own consumption with minimal reliance on external inputs. This practice is especially prevalent in tropical regions where the environment can support quick regeneration of vegetation after being cleared and burned. The suitable climate and vegetation types make shifting cultivation an effective method for those relying on subsistence means. Other methods of agriculture, such as nomadic pastoralism, intensive agriculture, and commercial agriculture, do not involve the same process of land clearing and regeneration and are distinct in their practices and objectives. While nomadic pastoralism focuses on livestock herding rather than crop cultivation, intensive agriculture aims for high yields from small plots of land through heavy labor and inputs, often geared more towards commercial sale than subsistence. Commercial agriculture, on the other hand, is characterized by